Title: Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance Records
Inclusive Dates: 1973-2017

Creator:

• Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance

Call Number: Mss 1210; PH 7082; Audio 1963A

Quantity: 4.0 cubic feet (3 records center cartons and 3 archives boxes), 0.1 cubic feet of photographs (1 folder), 2 audio recordings, and 7.01 gigabytes

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTIONS MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry for additional information.

Abstract:

Records, 1973-2017, of the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA), a non-profit organization that advocates for organic agriculture, documenting its history, organizational structure, and activities. Also includes records of two predecessor organizations, Organic Growers of Michigan (OGM) and Michigan Organic Growers Advancement Project (MOGAP).

Note:

Forms part of the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Collection.

Note:

There is a restriction on access to this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss01210

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The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) evolved from two earlier organizations: Organic Growers of Michigan (OGM) and Michigan Organic Growers Advancement Project (MOGAP).

The Organic Growers of Michigan (OGM) started at a meeting in Decatur, Michigan, on January 30, 1973, called by John and Judy Yeager. The group began to draft organic certification standards, and began certifying growers later that year. OGM incorporated and chapters in other areas of the state formed, in addition to the original Southwest chapter. A State Council of chapter heads met in March 1975, and at the end of the year agreed to publish a newsletter. After some expansion followed by a fallow period in the 1980s (no newsletters were published from 1984 to 1985), Len Prelesnik and Lee Purdy, two volunteer executive directors, guided the organization as it regrouped from 1986 to 1991. During this time, Maynard Kaufman, Merrill Clark, and other members worked on revising the by-laws to allow fundraising from charitable foundations. This work eventually led to the formation of a separate organization, Michigan Organic Growers Advancement Project (MOGAP). Part of the funds to establish the new organization came from memorial gifts in honor of Sally Kaufman, after her death in 1990. Maynard and Sally Kaufman, longtime practitioners and supporters of organic agriculture, had run the School of Homesteading on their farm in Bangor, Michigan since the early 1970s.

In January 1992, MOGAP was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to provide consumer and producer education about the benefits of organic agriculture. While OGM continued to focus on certification, technical aspects of production, marketing, and legislative lobbying on behalf of organic growers, MOGAP focused its efforts on education and sought assistance from foundations to achieve this mission. It also assumed publication of Michigan Organic News with distribution to OGM members across the state. MOGAP hired Lynne Blahnik as Executive Director. In September 1993, MOGAP changed its name to Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA), while still maintaining ties to its parent organization, OGM.

Major MOFFA projects included participation in and sponsorship of the Michigan Organic Harvest Festival, which started in 1995, and the publication of Eating Organically: A Guide to Michigan's Organic Food Producers and Related Businesses, a directory that first came out in 1995 and is periodically updated, as well as being available online on the MOFFA website. MOFFA members Merrill Clark and Carol Osborne also served as co-chairs for the first Michigan Organic Conference, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), in 2001. The Michigan Organic Conferences continued through 2011, when MOFFA discontinued this project.

Other MOFFA projects included collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), such as an on-farm research and demonstration program (1998-2001) and a survey of organic farmers and processors in Michigan (2006). A Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) risk management grant in 2003 provided funding for other activities, including a series of roundtables with certified organic farmers and a workshop on organic farm plans.

Merrill Clark, a MOFFA founder and board member, served on the first National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in 1992, and as a NOSB board member worked on developing a national organic standard. With the implementation of a national organic standard in 2002, Organic Growers of Michigan found the steps to becoming an official certification agency too onerous, and abandoned the accreditation process in 2006. In spring 2009, OGM formally dissolved, and MOFFA received some of its assets.

The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) records document the evolution of MOFFA from an earlier growers association to an organization with a broader educational mission serving both producers and consumers. The records are arranged in four series: ORGANIC GROWERS OF MICHIGAN (OGM), MICHIGAN ORGANIC GROWERS ADVANCEMENT PROJECT (MOGAP), MICHIGAN ORGANIC FOOD AND FARM ALLIANCE (MOFFA), and AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS.

The ORGANIC GROWERS OF MICHIGAN (OGM) series contains administrative files, including meeting minutes of regional chapters and the state council as well as annual membership meetings, and publications such as brochures and newsletters.

The MICHIGAN ORGANIC GROWERS ADVANCEMENT PROJECT (MOGAP) series documents the beginnings of the organization that would become the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA), establishing itself as an educational non-profit organization that could seek charitable support from foundations. Of note are completed questionnaires from board members on their assessment of the organization's structure, mission, and strategy. Also included are annual and board meeting minutes, brochures, and newsletter.

The MICHIGAN ORGANIC FOOD AND FARM ALLIANCE (MOFFA) series documents many of the educational events sponsored by the renamed organization, such as the Harvest Festival and the Michigan Organic Conference; publications including newsletters, the Eating Organically directories, and the book, The Organic Movement in Michigan; reports on organic agriculture in Michigan (2003 and 2006); grants received by MOFFA for various projects, and programs such as the on-farm research grants MOFFA offered from 1998-2001. Also included are histories of MOFFA, mostly by Maynard Kaufman, and other writings by Kaufman reflecting on various farm and economic issues. Also of note are publications related to organic gardening clubs in Michigan, which represent early interest in organics and the influence of J.I. Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine.

The AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS series includes two audio recordings: an interview with Maynard Kaufman and Judy Yaeger about the beginnings of OGM, and a radio interview about organic farming in which two MOFFA members, Merrill Clark and Pat Whetham, participated. Also included are photographs, a poster, and a videorecording of an organic farming workshop with John Clark.

• Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Publications (M2018-050)
• Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) Conference Recordings and Materials (Mss 1173) includes two sessions ("The Next Agriculture," by Michael Ableman, and "New Farmers for a New Century," by Dr. John Ikerd) from the 2001 Michigan Organic Conference (MIOC), Audio 1747A/836-837.

Access Restrictions

Consult electronic records archivist for access to electronic records.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Julia Christianson for the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA), Decatur, Michigan, March 2, 2018 and July 17, 2018. Accession Number: M2018-042

Processing Information

Processed by Julia Wong, May 2018 and July 2018.

Mss 1210	Series: Organic Growers of Michigan (OGM)
Box   1 Folder   1	Annual meetings, 1993-1995
Box   1 Folder   2	By-laws and revision, 1973-1974, 1990-1991, 1998
Box   1 Folder   3	Broadcaster, The: newsletter, 1998 March/April-2002 Winter
Box   1 Folder   4	Brochures, undated
	Certification program
Box   1 Folder   5	Farm inspections, 1998-2004
Box   1 Folder   6	Organic standards, 1974-2003
	Chapters
	Southwest
Box   1 Folder   7	Correspondence, 1985-1996
Box   1 Folder   8	Meeting minutes and materials, 1982?-2001
Box   1 Folder   9	Executive Committee, 1986-1993
Box   1 Folder   10	Member lists, 1977-1995, undated
Box   1 Folder   11-14	Newsletters, 1978-1980, 1986-1998
	Other chapters
Box   1 Folder   15	By-laws, Thumb chapter, 1988
Box   1 Folder   16	Newsletters, 1987-1989, 1996-1998 Note: Chapters: Thumb, Little Finger, Lifeline, Southeast, Thornapple, Third Coast.
Box   1 Folder   17	Dissolution, 2009
Box   1 Folder   18	Fundraising, executive director position, 1988-1995
Box   1 Folder   19	Harvest Banquet, Festival, 1986, 1988
Box   1 Folder   20	Media and other mailing lists, 1988-1997, undated
Box   1 Folder   21	Member lists, 1974-2002
Box   1 Folder   22	Old OGM member rosters, 1975-1993, undated Note: To be used for MOGAP member solicitation.
Box   1 Folder   23-24	Michigan Organic News: newsletter, 1987 Spring-1991/1992 Winter Note: Title is The Organic News from 1989 Winter to 1991-1992 Winter.
Electronic Folder	Newsletters spreadsheet
Box   1 Folder   25-26	National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) materials, 1992-1993 Note: Meeting summaries, committee draft recommendations and position papers, requests for public comment.
Box   1 Folder   27	Newsletter, 1973-1977, 1984-1985, 1997 Note: Titled Grower to Grower for 1984-1985, and Growing Concerns for 1997.
Box   1 Folder   28	Organic Farmer: newsletter, 1980 March-1983 March
	State Council
Box   1 Folder   29	Correspondence, 1988-2005, undated
Box   1 Folder   30	Meeting minutes and agendas, 1988 March-1999 October, 2002 May Note: Earlier minutes can be found in OGM newsletters.
Box   1 Folder   31	Steering committee recommendations, 1973
Box   1 Folder   32	Trademark/logo registration, 1989
	Series: Michigan Organic Growers Advancement Project (MOGAP)	⇧
Box   1 Folder   33	Annual meetings, 1992-1993
Electronic Folder	Annual report, 1992
Box   1 Folder   34	Articles of incorporation and by-laws, amendment, 1991-1992
	Board of Directors
Box   1 Folder   35	Meeting minutes and materials, 1991-1993 Note: Includes incorporation meeting, 1991 October 26.
	Questionnaires, starting point assessments
Box   1 Folder   36	Clark, Merrill, 1993
Box   1 Folder   37	DeLind, Laura, 1989, 1993
Box   1 Folder   38	Edmunds, Betty, 1993
Box   1 Folder   39	Kaufman, Maynard, 1993
Box   1 Folder   40	Larison, Grey, 1993
Box   1 Folder   41	Whetham, Pat, 1993
Box   1 Folder   42	Brochures, 1992, undated
Box   1 Folder   43	Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax status, 1992
Box   1 Folder   44	Michigan Organic News: newsletter, 1992 April-May-1993 September Note: Michigan Organic News became the official publication of MOGAP in spring 1992.
	Series: Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA)	⇧
Box   1 Folder   45	Annual meetings and reports, 1995-2009
Electronic Folder	Annual report (1994-2016) digital files, 1995-2017
Box   1 Folder   46	By-laws and articles of incorporation, 1991, 1996, 2006-2009
Box   1 Folder   47	Amendment regarding name change, 1993-1994
Electronic Folder	Amendment, 2014 Note: Regarding change from membership to directorship organization.
Box   1 Folder   48	Charitable trust documents, 1994-1999, 2006
Electronic Folder	Other organizational documents, 2013-2017
Electronic Folder	Previous by-laws versions, 2007-2008
Box   1 Folder   49-50	Vote regarding by-laws change, questionnaires, 2006
	Board of Directors
Box   1 Folder   51	Board flyer, information, 1994-1995
Box   1 Folder   52	Board governance policies, 1999-2003, 2006
	Board lists
Box   1 Folder   53	, 1993-1998, undated
Electronic Folder	2014-2017
	Board member files
Electronic Folder	Bingen, Jim, 2008-2016 Note: Board member, 2002-2010; chair, 2005-2010.
Electronic Folder	Cobb, Kurt, 2006, 2008 Note: Board member, 2005-2008; treasurer, 2005-2007.
Box   1 Folder   54	Hooper, John, 2011? Note: Board member since 2009; chair, 2011-2015; secretary, 2017- .
Electronic Folder	Osborne, Carol, 1999-2016 Note: Board member, 1999-2005; co-chair, 2000; chair, 2001-2003; administrative director, 2004-2006; correspondence, notes, reports.
Box   1 Folder   55	Board member manual pages, 2002 September
Box   1 Folder   56	Board résumés, 1990s
	Meeting minutes and materials
Box   1 Folder   57-58	1993-1996
Box   2 Folder   1-12	1997-2010
Electronic Folder	2010-2016
Box   2 Folder   13	Book proposal, undated
	Brochures, flyers
Box   2 Folder   14	, circa 1993-circa 2009, undated
Electronic Folder	2001-2006
Box   2 Folder   15	Related food and agriculture organizations, 1998-2005, undated
Box   2 Folder   16	Correspondence, 1994, 1997
Electronic Folder	MOFFA News Group: email listserv, 2002-2006
	Events
Box   2 Folder   17	Handouts, 2002-2009
Box   2 Folder   18	Harvest Festival, 1995-2012
Box   2 Folder   19	Planning committee, 1994-1995
Electronic Folder	Western Michigan, Grand Rapids, 2001
Box   2 Folder   20	Southwest Michigan Community Harvest Fest, 2003-2012 Note: MOFFA was a sponsor of this festival.
Box   2 Folder   21-22	Michigan Organic Conference (MIOC), 2001-2009, 2011
Electronic Folder	Digital files, 2001-2007, 2010
Box   2 Folder   23	New Farmer Forum program, 2001-2002
Electronic Folder	Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference, 2001-2007
Box   2 Folder   24	Other conferences and events, 1994-2006
Electronic Folder	Digital files, 1997, 2012-2013
Box   2 Folder   25	Executive director position, 1995
	Financial files
Box   2 Folder   26	Fundraising letters, membership campaign, 1993-1995
Box   2 Folder   27	Michigan Land Trustees (MLT) support, 1994, 1997
	Grants
Box   2 Folder   28	Grant Community Garden project, 2001-2002
Box   2 Folder   29	Grown in Michigan matching grant, MOFFA/Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), 1998-1999
	MOFFA/Michigan State University (MSU) projects
Box   2 Folder   30	Partnering to Cultivate Organic Agriculture ("Organic Partners," No. 61-4416A), 2005-2008
Electronic Folder	Digital files
Box   2 Folder   31	"Getting to Organic: Profiles of How Michigan Farmers Made Their Transition to Organic Agriculture": report, 2008 August
Box   2 Folder   32	"Organic Agriculture in Michigan: 2006 Survey Report" (2007), grant reports, 2006-2008
Electronic Folder	Organic Partners presentations, 2006 Note: Small Farm Conference, Michigan Family Farms Conference, Michigan Organic Conference.
Box   2 Folder   33	Sustainable Agriculture (No. 61-4065B), 1998
Box   2 Folder   34-35	Transition to Organic in Michigan (No. 61-4115A), 2005-2007
Electronic Folder	Digital files
Electronic Folder	Oakland County Food and Water Democracy Project, MOFFA/East Michigan Environmental Action Council (EMEAC), 2004
Box   2 Folder   36	Project proposals, 1993-2005, undated
Box   2 Folder   37	Michigan Integrated Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), 1992-1998
Electronic Folder	Project GREEEN, 1999, 2002
	Risk management grants (Nos. 791N2000517, 791N3000667), MDA, 2001-2003
Electronic Folder	Digital files
Box   2 Folder   38	General, 2001-2003 Note: Grant and contractor agreements.
Box   6 Folder   1	Choose Local Organic food brochure, 2003
Box   6 Folder   2	Ecological and organic farm tours, 2003
Box   6 Folder   3	Farmer roundtables, 2003 Note: Includes "Michigan Organic and Community Farmer Roundtables 2003: Summary Report and Recommendations," Carol Osborne and Dr. James Bingen, September 30, 2003.
	Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo
Box   6 Folder   4	General, 2002
Box   6 Folder   5-7	Information packets, 2002 December
Box   2 Folder   39	"Organic Farming - An Alternative Enterprise": packet / prepared by MOFFA, 2001 December
Box   6 Folder   8	Reports and expenses, 2002-2003
	"Risks and Rewards of Alternative Farming: Understanding Organic Production and Organic Certification" workshop
Box   6 Folder   9	General, 2002
Box   6 Folder   10-11	Workshop materials, 2002 Winter
Electronic Folder	Select Michigan brochure grant, MDA, 2005
	Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems project, 2005-2007
Electronic Folder	Digital files Note: Includes farmer roundtable materials, 2005-2006, for fruit and vegetable farmers on transitioning to organic agriculture.
Box   2 Folder   40	Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax status, 1997, 2005
Box   2 Folder   41	Histories of MOFFA, 1994-2012 Note: By Maynard Kaufman (1994-2004) and George Bird (2012).
	Kaufman, Maynard
Box   2 Folder   42	School of Homesteading, 1972-circa 1992
Box   2 Folder   43	Writings by and about, 1982-2006
Box   2 Folder   44	Legal issues, 1998-2005?
Electronic Folder	Lobbying, advocacy, 2005-2006 Note: GE seed bill (SB777) and CAFO bill (HB 5711-5716).
Box   2 Folder   45	Letterhead, undated
Box   2 Folder   46	Membership lists, 1992-1996, undated
Electronic Folder	Member files, 2007-2009
Box   3 Folder   1-15	Membership forms, 1999-2001, 2004-2009
Box   3 Folder   16	National Organic Program (NOP), policy, 1988-2004, undated
Electronic Folder	MOFFA draft comments, information, 2000, 2006
Box   3 Folder   17	News clippings, 1992-2004, undated
	On-farm research and demonstration program (MOFFA/Michigan State University (MSU))
Box   3 Folder   18-19	General, 1998-2002
Box   3 Folder   20-23	Grant proposals, 1998-2001
Box   3 Folder   24	Proposals not funded, 2001
Electronic Folder	Digital files
PH 7082 Folder   1	Transparencies, 1998
Mss 1210	Funded grants
	1998
Box   3 Folder   25	Anderson, Eric
Box   3 Folder   26	Clark, Merrill (continued in 1999)
Box   3 Folder   27	Davis, Dick
Box   3 Folder   28	Hughes, Gary
Box   3 Folder   29	Kaufman, Maynard
Box   3 Folder   30	Keiser, Nancy Jones (continued in 1999) Note: Includes project booklet, "Real 'Good Food' Directory: for the Greater Grand Rapids area" (2000).
Box   3 Folder   31	Neff, Beth and Zelda Stoltzfus
Box   3 Folder   32	Rasmussen, George (continued in 1999)
Box   3 Folder   33	Ray, LeRoy (or LeRoi), Jr.
Box   3 Folder   34	Robinson, Tom
Box   3 Folder   35	Smith, Linda
Box   3 Folder   36	Waffle, Elizabeth (continued in 1999)
	1999
Box   3 Folder   37	Banks, Wendell
Box   3 Folder   38	Bromelmeier, Pepper and Mark Randolf
Box   3 Folder   39	Davis, Dick
Box   3 Folder   40	Lubbers, Casey
Box   3 Folder   41	Moses, Jim and Linda Grigg
Box   3 Folder   42	Organic Growers of Michigan (OGM), State Fair Commodity Booth
Box   3 Folder   43	Rasmussen, George
Box   3 Folder   44	Seubert, Nancy, IHM
Box   3 Folder   45	Sluyter, Jim and Jo Meller
Box   3 Folder   46	Smith, Linda
Box   3 Folder   47	Smith-Potts, Kim and Molly Straebel
Box   3 Folder   48	Walker, Jayne Leatherman
	2000
Box   3 Folder   49	Battle Creek Schools
Box   3 Folder   50	Bush, Jane
Box   3 Folder   51	Davis, Dick
Box   3 Folder   52	Hatfield, Mark
Box   3 Folder   53	Keiser, Nancy Jones
Box   3 Folder   54	McDaid, Ken, Growing in Place
Box   3 Folder   55	Murray, Douglas
Box   3 Folder   56	Seubert, Nancy, IHM
Box   3 Folder   57	Steinhauser, David
	2001
	Grant administration
Electronic Folder	Correspondence, reports, 2001-2002
Electronic Folder	Final report documents, 2001-2002
Electronic Folder	Grant finances, 2001-2002
Electronic Folder	Grant summaries, 2001
Electronic Folder	Steering Committee
Electronic Folder	Allen, Gene and Linda
Electronic Folder	Anderson, Martha
Electronic Folder	Grant High School project
Box   3 Folder   58	Oliver, Chuck, organic dairy co-op
Electronic Folder	Salatin, Joel, event
	Organic agriculture
Box   3 Folder   59	Collected articles, 2001-2007
Box   6 Folder   12-13	"Organic Agriculture Curriculum for High School Students: Philosophy, Basic and Advanced Application, and Hands-On Activities" / by Nancy Jones Keiser, 2002 September
	In Michigan, history
	Federated Organic Clubs
Box   3 Folder   60	Federated Organic News (quarterly magazine), 1978 Spring, 1981 Summer
Box   3 Folder   61	Harvest Festival, 1981
Box   3 Folder   62	Michigan Organic News, 1959 Fall
	Tri-County Organic Farm & Garden Club
Box   3 Folder   63	Tri-County Newsletter, 1972 December
Box   3 Folder   64	Meetings, MSU, 2002-2003
Electronic Folder	Digital files, 2002
Electronic Folder	Outreach, speakers, 2001-2005
Box   4 Folder   1	Participatory guarantee systems (PGS), 2005?
	Processing trailer
Box   4 Folder   2	General, 1998-2008
Electronic Folder	Related files, 2000-2009
Electronic Folder	Digital photographs, 2000, 2007 Note: See thumbnail images of digital files from 2000 in PH 7082.
	Publications
Box   4 Folder   3-4	Eating Organically directories, 1995-2005
Box   4 Folder   5	Directory listing forms, 1999-2003
Box   4 Folder   6	Many Faces of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): a guide to community supported agriculture in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, 1999
	Michigan Organic Connections: newsletter
Box   4 Folder   7-10	1994 May-June-2010 Winter,
Electronic Folder	Index/"Notes on the Contents of MOFFA Newsletters 1994-2010," compiled by Jim Bingen, 2017
Electronic Folder	2012 January-2017 September
Box   4 Folder   11	Michigan Organic News: newsletter, 1993 October-1994 Winter
Box   5 Folder   1	The Organic Movement in Michigan: book / edited by Maynard Kaufman and Julia Christianson, 2017
Box   5 Folder   2	Website, 1997-2004
	Workshops
	Organic Greenhouse Production (April 6, 2002)
Box   5 Folder   3	General, 2002 March-September
Electronic Folder	Digital files
Box   5 Folder   4	Resource book
	Series: Audiovisual Materials	⇧
Audio 1963A	Audio recordings
1963A/1	"The Roots of OGM: Organic Growers of Michigan: A Conversation with Maynard Kaufman and Judy Yaeger," 2010 Summer Physical Description: 48 minutes
1963A/2	"Ag Focus: Organic Farming and Certification," Michigan Farm Radio Network (MFRN) interview with Merrill Clark, Pat Whetham, Dan Rossman, Christine Lietzau, 2002 March
PH 7082 Folder   1	Photographs Scope and Content Note: Images of the MOFFA processing trailer, prints and transparencies related to the MOFFA/MSU on-farm research and demonstration program, and a snapshot of three elected officers of the Southwest chapter of OGM.
Mss 1210 Electronic Folder	Digital files Scope and Content Note: Images submitted with grant proposal applications (or reports?) to the MOFFA/MSU on-farm research and demonstration program, farm tour photos, and an image from the 2003 Harvest Festival.
PH 7082 Folder   1	Michigan Organic Harvest Festival: poster, 1995
Mss 1210 Electronic Folder	Videorecording: "Beginning Organic Farming Program," presented by Purdue University Extension, 2006 February 1 Note: John Clark of Roseland Organic Farm (operated by John and Merrill Clark) is one of the presenters.
Box   5 Folder   5	Printout of workshop schedule, 2006